Gossip: Man United and Man City 'battle' for Mbappe, Liverpool make £158m bid for Real Madrid star
Have Paris Saint-Germain actually bought Kylian Mbappe yet? Only reason I ask is that they are reportedly going to sell him, but can you sell someone you haven’t bought?
If you’re PSG, who rewrite the rules of football transfers as they go along, the answer is probably yes – you can.
The Sunday Mirror claims that Manchester United and Manchester City are “going head-to-head” to sign France’s teen sensation this summer, but who will they sign him from?
The 19-year-old moved to the Parc des Princes on loan from Monaco last August, and in February PSG triggered an option to make the deal permanent this summer, tying him to the club until 2022.
But summer has arrived and Mbappe is still officially “on loan”. Meanwhile, PSG are being investigated for financial fair play.
United and City are apparently “monitoring” this situation and could swoop for Mbappe “if PSG pull the plug” on their agreement with Monaco. An agreement that had already supposedly been finalised. Confusing.
Just to make matters more complicated, United also want to include Anthony Martial as a makeweight in any deal to sign Mbappe, although whether he would go to Monaco or PSG is unclear.
Liverpool bid £158m for Marco Asensio
All we know for sure is that Mbappe is valued at £158m, which coincidentally is exactly the same amount that Liverpool have allegedly offered to sign Marco Asensio.
The Sunday Express, citing Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, says the Reds have made an “official approach” for the Real Madrid starlet and are prepared to break the British transfer record to get him.
Although £158m might sound like a lot of money for a player who can’t even hold down a regular place in the Bernabeu first team, it’s a lot less than the £613m release clause that was inserted into the six-year contract he signed last season. So it’s a bargain really – kind of.
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Liverpool are also set to take on Barcelona to sign Mexico’s World Cup star Hirving Lozano, who is currently playing for PSV Eindhoven but whose sparkling displays in Russia looks certain to earn him a move elsewhere (Daily Star Sunday).
Everton want Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Across Stanley Park, new Everton manager Marco Silva wants to sign a couple of England midfielders to transform the Toffees into a top six club – all without spending a penny on transfer fees.
The Sunday Mirror says Silva will try to get Ruben Loftus-Cheek on a season-long loan from Chelsea while also snapping up free agent Jack Wilshere from Arsenal.
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Everton will face competition for both players, with Crystal Palace and Newcastle keen on Loftus-Cheek and Wilshere wanted by Wolves, Palace and Juventus, according to the Sun on Sunday. Hmm, Wolves, Palace or Juventus? Tricky decision that one.
Meanwhile, Man Utd are targeting Valencia’s Spanish left-back Jose Luis Gaya, 23, after being priced out of a move for long-term target Alex Sandro of Juventus (Sunday Mirror). Gaya becomes the 57th left-back United have been linked with this summer.
Elsewhere, Watford are preparing to make a £10m bid for West Brom’s relegated goalkeeper Ben Foster (Sun on Sunday), Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic wants to leave the Bernabeu and is set to attract interest from Premier League clubs (Marca) and Aston Villa are considering former Leicester centre-half Robert Huth as a replacement for the departing John Terry (Birmingham Mail). Steve Bruce just wants someone horrible at the heart of his defence – he doesn’t mind who it is.
